Looking to buy a new air conditioner? Check out these tips before you do so.
With so many brands and models to choose from online, buying a new air conditioner today is an absolute breeze. But before you whip out that credit card and place an order, there is one thing you absolutely must do: Find out which type of air conditioner is best suited for your home or workplace.
Why? Because not all air conditioners are built the same, and getting the wrong type might give you more problems than comfort. You could also end up paying more for electricity bills than needed.
Here are the key factors you should consider.
1. Room size and layout
The biggest factor to consider is the size of your room. The concept is simple — the larger the space, the
higher the air conditioner’s cooling capacity (how powerful it is) should be.
Next, consider the layout of the space. This is important because the layout affects air flow. Homes with open layouts will need air conditioners that have higher cooling capacities compared to homes that have distinct separate zones.
Other factors to consider include sun exposure and the number of people that will normally occupy the room. Again, the greater the sun exposure and the number of people, the more powerful the air conditioner should be.
DON’T MAKE THIS MISTAKE:
You might be thinking that the easiest thing to do is to install a powerful air conditioning unit for every room regardless of its size. Do not do this.
Although a large air conditioning unit will cool a room quicker, it will also cycle on and off more frequently, and this may result in greater stress on the system. This, in turn, could lead to higher maintenance or repair fees. Furthermore, air conditioners that cycle on and off too frequently usually do not have enough time to remove humidity in the air. This means you end up with a cool room that feels uncomfortably damp.
To find out more about the right aircon to suit your house, visit https://consumer.daikin.com.sg/product-finder/.
2. BTU
An air conditioner’s cooling capacity can be determined by looking at its BTU, which stands for British Thermal Units. The higher the BTU, the faster an air conditioner cools a space.
For example, an 8,500 BTU air conditioner would be ideal for a common HDB bedroom. The air conditioning unit for your living room, however, should have a BTU of 22,000 or higher, because there’s more space to cool. Using an 8,500 BTU air conditioner for a large space like a living room would mean the unit has to work harder to cool the area. This translates to higher energy usage and utility bills.
For more clarification on BTU, come down to any Daikin outlets and let our experts guide you through the process of selecting an air conditioner, so as to achieve optimal performance at the right price.
3. Type of air conditioner
When shopping around for air conditioners, you will very likely come across the terms System 3 and System 4. The numbers you see refer to the number of air conditioning units that are connected to a single compressor. If you need to have air conditioning installed in your living room as well as your three bedrooms, go for the System 4 option.
You can also consider getting two compressors — one to power the air conditioners in the bedrooms and the other dedicated to the living room. This would be applicable to those living in houses with huge living rooms.
4. Noise level
A noisy air conditioner can be more of an irritant than a source of comfort. Be sure to check out the noise levels of the air conditioner as well as the compressor — especially if the latter is located right outside your room. Light sleeper? Daikin air conditioners have a noise level of just 19 decibels. You practically can’t hear them.
5. Features and functions
Today’s modern air conditioners come with a bevy of features that make life better and easier. These features can be as simple as a remote control backlight that makes usage in dimly-lit conditions easy, and as sophisticated as the Built-in Daikin Smartphone Control, which affords you the convenience of controlling your air conditioning using your mobile phone.
Looking for an air conditioner that will impress your guests? Daikin has not one, but four models that recognise voice commands. If you don’t like having the air conditioner switched on throughout the night, opt for a model like the Daikin iSmileEco, which allows you to control the operation times. What’s more, this smart system even lets you customise the timer settings for each day of the week. Want to sleep in on Saturdays and Sundays? Simply tweak the settings so the air conditioner doesn’t switch off at 7am like it does on weekdays.
Another function to look out for is air purification. That’s right — air conditioners can double up as air purifiers and help improve the indoor air environment. The Daikin iSmileEco series does just this as its filter picks up contaminants that are as tiny as 2.5 microns.
Did you know?
In many conventional air conditioners, air flows in only one direction and this means that certain areas won’t feel as cool as others. This won’t be a problem with Daikin, as our 3D Airflow system uses different air flow patterns that ensure every part of your home or office is cooled.
6. Brand reputation
Opt for reputable brands that are known for making high-quality air conditioners that are reliable. After all, in a tropical country like Singapore, air conditioners are used extensively.
What’s a reputable and reliable brand? The only air-conditioning brand in Singapore to receive the coveted Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Platinum Award for the second year running, Daikin also happens to be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year — and that says a lot!
7. Installation and maintenance
Not all air conditioners have the same installation requirements. While the installation of System 3 and 4 air conditioners are relatively straightforward, setting up a central air conditioning systems can be rather complex.
It is also important to pick a brand that uses high-quality materials during the installation process. Daikin, for example, uses highly-rated DSP materials that prevent issues like bacteria growth and condensation. This means you will end up spending much less on repairs over time.
Total solutions
Here at Daikin, we offer a wide range of services that include cleaning of air conditioning units and ducts, coil sanitisation, air filtration, air purification and even UV light treatment.
8. Warranty coverage
Air conditioners can be a big investment, so be sure to take note of the warranty coverage before you make the purchase. Protect your investment by picking those with comprehensive warranties that cover parts and labour for an extended period. It’s advisable to get a slightly pricier air conditioner that has a comprehensive warranty because repairs can be expensive.
9. Energy efficiency
Don’t be quick to settle for the cheapest air conditioning system you find. Be sure to consider important
factors like energy efficiency. A cheap but inefficient air conditioner will cost you more in the long run due
to higher maintenance fees and electricity bills. An air conditioner with the maximum 5 ticks gives you the biggest bang for your buck over time.
Unsure about which air conditioning system you should get? Find out more about our products at here or make a trip down to any of our authorised retailers to check out the different models and consult the professionals.
